AD/CIRRUS/2 Amdt 1 - Aircraft Parachute System

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduced the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/CIRRUS/2 Amdt 1 in 2003 to address an identified safety issue with the Cirrus Design SR20 and SR22 Series Aeroplanes. This directive was issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 and aims to correct an unsafe condition that could potentially prevent the Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System (CAPS) from activating during an emergency. The directive mandates the modification of specific components of the CAPS, namely the handle access cover, the activation handle bracket, and the activation cable, with improved design parts as outlined in the relevant service bulletins. This action is intended to mitigate the risk of system failure and ensure the safety of the aircraft during critical situations. The directive applies to specific serial numbers of the SR20 and SR22 models and requires compliance within 90 days from the date of the directive.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 pertains specifically to the Cirrus Design SR20 and SR22 series aeroplanes, targeting particular serial numbers within these models. The directive mandates modifications to the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS) to address an identified unsafe condition that could potentially prevent the CAPS from activating during an emergency. The required modifications involve replacing the CAPS handle access cover, the activation handle bracket, and the activation cable with parts designed to rectify the issue, as detailed in specific service bulletins issued by Cirrus. This directive applies to model SR20 aircraft with serial numbers ranging from 1005 through 1195, and model SR22 aircraft with serial numbers from 0002 through 0209. The compliance period is set within 90 days from 20 March 2003, unless the modifications have already been completed. This Airworthiness Directive extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, enforcing adherence to the specified modifications to ensure the airworthiness and safety of the affected aircraft.

Key Provisions

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/CIRRUS/2 Amdt 1 issued under subregulation 39.1(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) applies specifically to Cirrus Design SR20 and SR22 series aeroplanes. The AD mandates that modifications be made to the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS) for certain serial numbers of the SR20 and SR22 aircraft models (sections 1 and 3). The modifications required include replacing the CAPS handle access cover, the activation handle bracket, and the activation cable, using parts of an improved design as detailed in specific service bulletins (section 2). This action is necessary to address an unsafe condition identified by the FAA, which could result in the CAPS not activating in an emergency (section 4). The AD imposes specific obligations on the owners or operators of the affected aircraft. They must ensure that the modifications outlined in the requirement section are completed within 90 days from 20 March 2003, unless they have already been performed (section 3). The modifications must be carried out in accordance with the instructions provided in the relevant service bulletins (sections 2 and 4). This requirement is intended to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft by preventing the CAPS from failing to activate in an emergency situation. Failure to comply with the AD could result in the aircraft being considered unairworthy, which could lead to serious safety risks. Although the AD itself does not specify penalties for non-compliance, non-compliance with ADs can result in enforcement actions under CAR 1998, potentially including fines and other civil or criminal consequences. The severity of these consequences would depend on the specific circumstances and the discretion of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).